Mechanism and system for conveying loose materials



March 17, 1925.

Filed NOV. 4, 1921 l (V NI y" 1 l" ;l/

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l k k y Il 't l l' A ll l l v :xm 'l i l I Y ATToR EY March 17, 1925. Y

K. DAvls ECHANISM AND SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING LOOSE MATERIALS 4 SSheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 4 1921 ATTORNEY March 17, 1925. 1,529,875

K. DAVIS MECHANISM AND SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING LOOSE MATERIALS Filed Nov.4, 1921'V 4 sheets-sheet s ATTORNEY March 17, 1925. v- 1,529,875

K. DAVIS MECHANISM AND SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING LoosE MATERIALS Filed Nov,4, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fl t) Fie l;

Fig. lewis a f fragmentary topziplan taken j Y 5; passing through theother :flanges `which Y abut Vface Elagainst. face, all .las Vshowin linPatented Mar. 17, 1925. v

l 1,529,815,- AUNI'fren i-sfra refs #PATENT es 'MECHANISM \A`NDSYSTEMFOR- CONVEYIIEILI'GBY {LOSE 'MATCEfRIAL'S.

Application filed' November l, 11921.v Serial kNo.5,152,778.

'Be -it known that I. KENNETH Devis, a citizen ofthe United States.residing at St. flenedict, in the County of Cambria and .State ofPennsylvania,have ,niadeF certain -neufand usefuls improvements in`Mechanism and Sli/istems for Conveying Loose lsaterials, `of which thefollowing isa-specification.

The --invention irelates sito an iiniproved form of reciprocatingconveying :mechanism Thel Iinvention,consists .-i-n the novel; parts,

constructions, arrangements, combinations and iinfl-n'ovements hereinshown and'described. l

The f l accompanying drawings, referred to trate one embodimentv of the:inventionfaiid -together with the description,serve to explain the4principles of the invention. i

' Gf. the drawings `l Ais -a -side elevation, withA certain :parts shownmore oi" less diagrammaticailly, 4of the externalPoi-dischargeend of-a-conveyoi" Amechanisnr embodying the invention, and VAof 1 a ,part offthe` common-driving orflactuatiing system foi-aip-luratity'lofthey-conveyors;

Fig; afside elevation jon tliefiinnerfior receiving end of thefconveyorshown zin Eig. rl, the interveningportions ofi the conveyor @between*Figs 1 and 2 ybeing of varying' length :asV desired; Y

Fig. 3 `-is -a ltransverse Ivertical 1 section Italien :substantially fon the yline fief over -one `of theriliusherblade: mechanisms; llig. y5'is a ltransverse if'ertical seotion taken i Substantially 'on'f'thefline 5 lfof 2; i i liligsfwisla transverse 'verticalisectionsubl-sta'nl'ially o1i1the'ilinef6-6f of vFig. f2;

F 7 is fas idetachedsidevelevation `with Vparts` omittedA showing thecommony driving means for a plurality oftlie'fconveyors;

:ance `about tliei-eXternal'edges. l Iveyor blades lOare preferably.mountedby Fig. S-is -a'vertic'al transverse section on line `8f8 ofFig.l;

F`g.- 9 is a diagrammatic'topplan'of a plurality of conveyor mechanismsoperating in a. series of mine roomsand driven' by common driving meansin the entry; and c Fig. 110 -is a longitudinal section ofthe conveyortrough broken away. Referring now to theV4 embodiment ofthe invention,illustrated byv Way 'of 'example yin the,accompanying drawings, theconveyor is shown applied` to amine room, and espe cially ina thinvenu-and also-as applied to a :group ofifooms operated' together by .a

single driving means and sourcfeofpowerA ejterring primarily .-to thegeneralconstruction of theimproved form of the con- "veyor, the conveyoror` conveyor trough'is .stationary and the blades`witliin tl'ietroughreciprocate to convey? thejm'aterial. 'In accoi-dance Withl one featurelof' the'lr invention,

the conveyor trough, the pusher" blades l'and the actuatingmecliarmsnnare constructed =in `sections, or on a sectional system, ofthe herein and vconstitutmgfa[part hereof, illussame or correspondingdimensions, whereby the conveyor canbe extended by unit lengths as theface of' the y'Working @advances 'vTlie pusher blade and the actuatingmechf i'ism v are constructed sothat f the ieciiproeato'iy travel of ablade `is, somewhatgreater' than ypusher blade mounting With the'frontof the y the distance' :betweenthe pusher'bladesto y insure each-.bladegetting completely'b'eliin'd its) pile ofwmaterial on'leachreciprocation.

The conveyor trough,i as embodied, -conr ,prises a bottoni l), andinclined fsidesv-Qu and 3 extending upwardlyj therefrom,` andpreferably-outwardly inclined. The trough i.members are i heldtogetherxin i asuitable --niannei, as -by i-joi-ning .and reenferoing means,suclif-as,l al bent :angleirony 4, .4: fitted about and riveted to theoutside fof the units -an'dat theends thereof. These; reenforcingmembers, placed vatqeacli end-,of each section f have one flange*lfastened. to their respective units, vandqmay `be joinedy together'.by. bolts i clinedposition,and are shaped to 'fill' thexintei'ior of thetrough 'Witltonly Working clearf-The con# meansv yofangle' pieces l1-and 12,4 riveted r'to I pusher blades lOhave two points of support arigid joint is desired.

Means are provided for preventing the load on the vpusher bladesbending-or swinging them too far backwardly, and from exerting too muchpressure on the bottom of the conveyor.v As embodied, wings 17 and 18,respectively, are fixed to the arms 11 and 12, and are bent upwardly andoutwardly to rest upon the bars 15 and 16. Thus, the

at either side g` lon the one side, the points 13 andv 17, and on theother side, the points 14 and 18, to resist undue pivoting action andalso undue friction between the blades and the conveyor.

Means are provided'also for unifying and stiifening the blade carryingand actuating mechanisinand providing also for reciprocably supportingthe same on the top edge of theconveyor trough 3). As embodied,

short pieces lof channelbeam 19 and 20, re-

spectively, alrefastened to the external sides f ofthe bars15 and 16 byoneof their flanges,

the bottom or web of the respective channels resting upon the top edgesof the sides 2 l i and 3 of the conveyor trough. l A connecting crossyoke or bracket 21 is formed in three right-angled reaches, one reach22being fastened to the outside flange of the angle 19, Vand `theparallel reach 24 being fastened to the outsideiiange of the angle 20,with the intermediate 'uniting reach 23 extending across and above asshown in Fig. 3. The members 22' and24 also serve'as guides to preventsidelash of the pusher blademechanism under stress of the load.

In accordance with onel feature of the invention, there is provided atthe inner end of Athe conveyor a construction especially adapted toreceive the coal or other loose material'at the level of the mine fiooror the bottom of the conveyor in varying small or large quantities asdesired.v Aloading machine having a shovel or carrier at the front whichis normally parallel with and just.

Y, above the floor, and which discharges the load from the shovel by apusher blade is adapted to cooperate 'with the one-sided secvrtion ofthe conveyor, and can discharge comparatively large loads into theconveyor even iniavery thin coal. vein. Such aconveyor is shown in mycopending application Ser. No.

filed April 15, 1922. Such a loader can discharge 'its load. into theconveyor witlioutthe necessity of lifting vthe shovel of the loadingmachine to discharge the material from the loader into the conveyor.This entire arrangement is especially adapted for handling coal-in largequantities in thin veins.

In the embodied form of the receiving end of the conveying mechanism,thekconveyor trough is adaptedto receive the loose mate-` rial at'theside, and the pusher blades and their actuating mechanism are adapted tothis manner of loading the conveyor. The inner end of the conveyor(Figs. 2, 5 and 6) has one side, for instance, side .3, thereof omitted(Figs. 2 and 6) .Y The side 2in this case is removable, or shiftablefrom one side to the other, so that the loose material may be loadedinto the conveyor from either side as desired, the side 2 servingv as astop on the opposite side to prevent thel discharged ina-l terial frombeing pushed entirely across the conveyor.

In said embodied form, the rails or bars 15 and 16 are bent upwardly asshown at 30 in Fig. 2, and then extend again horizontally at a somewhathigher level to provide greater underneath clearance. The rear pusherblade 31 is provided with supporting arms 32 and 33, like the arms 11and'12 but of greater length.' These arms are likewise pivoted in theside rails 15 and 16 in this high- `er section or portion thereof.

Suitable supporting meansfor the reciprocating conveying structure isprovided,

and as embodied, there is at either side, respectively, supporting andguiding rods 34 and 35, extending horizontally and longitul OO dinallyabove the conveyor, and supported `f by suitableV means, such as bariron standards 36 and 37, respectively, formed at ltheir bottomsintofooting and reenforcing loops 38 vand 39, which are fastened'to thell bottom of the Vconveyor'structure and eX- tend upwardly therefrom, andsupport the respective rods 34 and 35 from beneath. Reenforcing sidevstruts 40 and 41 are fastened to the loops 38 and 39, respectively, andextend upwardly and outwardly, and

'are fastened to the respective rods 34 and 35.

The arms `32 and 33 are pivotedon'a cross rod'42, which rod is carriedin thebarsv 15 and 16. Journaled on the rod 42, at either side thereof,on the outside of rails 15 and 16, are curved rollers 43 and 44, whichrun, respectively, on' the supporting and guiding rods 34 and 35. lYokes 45 and 46 are mounted at either side upon the rod 42,. and

Aextend downwardly on either side of the respective supporting andguiding. rods 34 and 35. The upper part of the supports 36 arepreferably bent or angled outwardly, as

shown at 47 to form bearings for screw jacks 48, which also bear againstthe mine roof to hold the conveyor: construction firmly in positiornThus there-isz'lprovided an fopen sidente the conveyor ifori receivingL1-horizontally Idischarged i load, with an yopposite side for stoppingthe Idi-scharged 'load on` the conbottom. The vreciprocating bladeconstruction is sufficiently whighhtofztfford clearance beneath f for?the discharge ori delivery of the material into the conveyo-i',an`d

yate in Very thin coal seams, suchas twofoot six inch and ithree footveins. Thefloa'd from the loading machine can be delivered into theconveyorat 'any time virrespective of the positionef the pu'sherbladesThe construction also obviously lprovides lfor easy liandlingooi1 ftheymaterialwithhand shoveling, orother means,as-it obviates thevnecessity'ior lifting the materiahand'for the 'height -necessary insuch lift-ing.

In the preferred .embodiedFformofl conveyor mechanism, the nbla'dereciprocating structure -is rf'ec'i-procatedv fbymeans of cables anddriving ineanstliei'efloi. Further as embodied, a common drivef is'provided for a lplurality of cables, although'each'icon- -veyor canbeuprovided with Lits own-individual drive, ifldesircd. 'As embodied, lasprocket chain 56 runs over sprocketuvheels 57 and 5S, and asimilar'sprocket chain'59 runs over similar sprocketwvheels y(S9-and 61in line with the others. The-space between the two sets ofsprocket-Wheels lis' mechanically clear, and a crossihead62i isconnected to and extendsacross between the sprocket To afford athisclearance, @the sprocket Wheelsl are 'journaled'linsuit-able `bearingson' the external -sides `thereoffsuch as bearingsl and 64 and'65 andfG.

In the embodied form :of dl'i'veiforir-tlie sprocket cha-ins, sprocketwheels'. 57va=ndf L60 yareixed on a'pair of shafts 69, on :which vshaftsare `fixed gear*Wheels'lfOqand 7l, -respectively. lWIeshing 11W-'ith'the 'gear yWheels 70 and'71are-p1n1ons 72 and 73, which are liXed onshaft 74. On shaft 74.is fixed a i reducing gearwvheelv 7 6,.driven` by.the motor 75. The gear reduction 4may be asfg-reamas desired.

Fast to the cross-head 62 va-reboth ends of av cable 80, 'whichcablefruns over -su 'porti-ng yand*'guiding sheavesfl1and'282, so thatthe cable has t-Wo opposi-telyflmoving reaches 83 and S4.Asthevpovv'erf-meoha` nism is driven the cross-l1ea"d62 travels to andlfro With the sprocket cha-ins' andf59.

In Fig. '9' this driving mechanism `s'-located 'in and extends alongthe' entry,- and the conveyors are located -in the respective rooms,lthecable extending past theumouths of the rooms. 'The conveyorsinthe'frooms areactuatedwby branohfcalbles; attached `to the main'.drivringi cable: [just descibed.l "As .'einbodiedli(Figsov l,l 2 and ,ia branch cable `88 Lislconnected4 to' .the lowerireaclrffvofl rthefmaincable, land'. passes over sheaves 89,A ('90, and;x 91, all suitablyfpositionedw and vsupported,.land.is1iixedoto a crossrod 921`1Xed iin. ayoke V93, *Whichtotherwise may be: the 'same for similar to thefyoke'21, already d'escnibed. frllhevyokei93fmayl .-.be'iprovidedl withreentorc-l iingl rpiecesl 94 between .the yoke .and the Arails and16,1asrsshownrinrlflig. l. Another cable '96- is fastened `to the:'upper 4:reach 8410i? the-main lcaible (travelingifin the V:opposite,direction from reach `83) :and rpasses.around-sheaves A97 l.and I98,i`properly mounted andupositione'd (Figs. land-2), Vand 4`extends:along-:zand overi the conveyor lmechanismv to the innen end thereof. Atthe inner.' end thereof thiskcableapasses over la .supporting r' and:direction reversing sheave 99, journaled in a support. 100, Aprovided`.withv screw adj ustmentfV 191 ttor; .tak-ing up the f slackloi"regulatingv the; tension 1inV the `cable ,'96. .IIhesupport 100.visfrmounltedvon 'a cross-'piece 1021carrie'd-y uponl the inner'fend 'ofthe lsupporting land guiding rails '341 and 35. i Gable' 96 r:is'fastened rito a "cross-rod mounted in rails fandl.

In Figs. 7 and 9 thecablesiare' shown 1n sofas 'to-divide the'load fan'd`distributeuit substantially requarlly, vor'ias'lne-arly equallyE1s-possible, on the alternate 'reciprocations of the maincable'reaiches 83 and-84. Thus theload of' thefiirstfand .thirdconveyors, an'dso ciu-Willi fall on the main cable.travelfingimoneldirection, and the load of thesec- 10nd: Land `four-thconveyors, and )sof on, :will 'all' on themain'cable when traveling in:the opposite zdiiection, and the load fon the tfrivc lavill besubstantially: runiformall the time.

'IntFig 9 theV room conveyorsiareshown -dischargingfinto mine. cars'2105, standing on the entry vtrack 106. lltwvfill bewunder.a stood,-sofar-2 als-concerns 1rmost Vfeatures ofthe linvention, .lamconvjeyorinechanisinof any ldesired character-could be `used-,fin .the entry ,einplace :ofthe cars. A y

'Ihe entire-system does :away with @the f.necessity of men; pushingcoall cars fto' and 'Ciro'. in! ithin veins, an d-v 1 also fobvi a'testhe' fueces'sityof thealternative, ithatzvis, blasting i movingltliedislodged coal, from its dislodgmentl from the vein to itsfconveyance`out of the mine. It will beunderstood that the vdisclosure of theinvention in connection .with coal mining merely illustrate one veryvaluable use thereof, and that theinveiition isl useful elsewhere and inother ways in conveying loose materials.

Means are provided for facilitating the passage of thev pusher lbladesover large lumps or piles of material on the return stroke, so that theblades will not-push the.

material backw'airdly or the pusher blade structure will not Ybe liiitedupwardly or be otherwise displaced or disturbed. vAs einbodiedthis isshown in Fig. l0, which shows the arms 12 extending backwardly in thedirection of inclination of the blade l() and of a length sufficient togive 'a relatively high lift to .the blade. The length of the arms 12will regulate the height to which gether also'i'ormed in detachable andcon-4 nectable units corresponding to..A the trough units, means forreciprocating the blades together by means of said connections', and

means whereby adjoining sections may be connected together anddisconnected from eachother. l

2. A conveying mechanism for loose inaterials including in combination a.conveyor trough having interchangeable unit sect-ions, pusher bladesfor reciprocation within the trough, connections between the pusherblades for reciprocating them together also formed in detachable andconnectable units corresponding 'to the trough units, and

means .onftlie ends ot' the sections for attaching them together.

3. A conveying mechanism for loosemal terials including in combinationaco-nveyor trough having interchangeable unit sectiqns, pusher bladesfor reciprocation within the trough, connections between the pusherblades for reciprocating them together also formed in detachable andconnectableunits coresponding to the trough units, and abutting flangeson the ends of the trough. sections and means orconnecting said flangestogether.

4. A conveying mechanism for loose materia-ls including iny combinationa conveyor trough having interchangeable unit sections, pusher bladesfor-reciprocationwithin the trough, connections between the vpusherblades for reciprocating them .together also i formed in detachableandconnectable units corresponding to the trough units, and abuttingreenforcing members having flanges on the ends of the trough sectionsand means for connecting said flanges together.

1 5. A conveying mech-anisn'i for loose materials including incombination a trough made in portable, interchangealole. sections, amaterial conveying device within the trough including a series of.pusher blades,

a series of rails connecting said pusheil blades to reciprocate themtogether and supporting means for the'blades and rails running on theedges of the trough.A p Y 6. A conveying mechanism Jforloose materialsincluding in combination a trough. a material conveying device withinthe trough including a series of pusher blades, a series. of railsconnecting said pusher `blades .to reciprocate them together and meansengageable over the outei` edges ofV the trough or preventing side lashof the and their connecting rails.

pusher blades 7. A conveying mechanism for loose materials including incombination a trough made in portable, interchangeable sections, amaterial conveying device Within the trough including a series of pusherblades, a series of yrails connecting said pusher blades to Vreciprocatethem together and means for preventing side lash of the pusher bladesand theirconnecting rails and for supporting the pusher blades and theirconnecting rails on the edges of vthe, trough.

8. A conveying mechanism for loose materials including in combination atrough, pairs of rails extending valong at either side and' near the topof said trough', pusher blades iitting within `and reciprocable alongsaid trough and mountedon said rails, and' supports for said rails andblades resting on the edges of said trough andv permitting reciprocablemovement thereof.

9. A conveying mechanism for loose ma terials including in combination atrough, pairs of rails extending along at either side and near the topof said trough, pusher blades fitting within and reciprocable along saidtrough and mounted on said rails, and

.supports for said rails `and blades resting on the edges of said troughand permitting reciprocable movement thereof, and means :tor preventingside lash of said structuie.

10. A 'conveying mechanism for loose inaterials including in combinationa trough made in interchangeable unit sections, pairs 'of rails made inLinterchangeable unit sections corresponding tothe trouglisections,extending along at either side and y,near the top of said trough, pusherblades fitting llO . and' mount-eden said: lrails,-:.and: supportedWithin i an di reciprocablex. along -saidn trough@V saldi rails andbladesrestingrgon,the edges of said 4trough' an d. permzi tti'iigreciprocable movement thereof.-

I and having a ipivot. support on said struc ture vandfliavingialsoani-additional supportfrom said structuiie'.A

12. A conveying mechanismy forloosema'- terials lincluding."=iniVcombination: a trough madeinf. inter-changeable unitI sections, afbladeLA connecting structurel reciprocable along the trough, inclinedpusher` blades i ttingyivithin thetrough andhavinga pivot support `onsaid structure and a rigid sup portrbetween la pusher blade and' saidstructure; forA limiting the pivotalf` 'movement of the-loaded blade.

13.. Afconveyiiig mechanism for loose.v niaterials including incombination'a-I trough, madeinV inter-changeable." unit sections, a1blade connecting structureI reciprocable alongr the-trough, cable means-for recipro eating said blade'y connecting structure, inf-- clinedpusher blades litting Within the troughy andy having a pivot supportonwsaidy structure andfmeans between: a pusher Iblade and saidystructurel for limiting the pivotal movement of the loaded blade 14; Aconveying meclianisinpfoi' loose materials including in combination aseries of reciprocating pusher blades, and connec tions therebetweenfonreciprocating them together, a trou-gh- ,ivith'in which said 'pushelbladesreciprocate, the trough havinga bot-f tom and tivo. sides, butat'its materialieceiving endv having only a bottom andonel sideinterchangeablev from oneA side tothe other of thebottom.

15. A' conveying inechanismfor loose materia-ls including v incombinationa series of reciprocating pusher blades,v and connec tionsltherebetween for reciproeating;themtogether, agtroughj Within which?said pusher-A blades reciprocate, the-trough havinga bottom andtWosides, but at'its material re` ceiving end having only a bottoni andoneside interchangeable from oneside to the other oitheh bottom, saidconnections a between the blades ybeing elevated. :at thereceiv fin'g'end to 4permit 'theisupplyg of the floose mas terial 'tlierebeneathonto @the trouglii bottom.`

16. Al conveying mechanism for.. loose; ina*- terials including incombination a trough, pusher blades fitting Within: the trough: :andreciprocablef therea'long,`l connections :between the blades.,`supporting means fonthe pusher blades/and connections resting upon. and"re.`

its materiali receivingocnd hai/'ing' atbottomj:

ail-diene s idef'an-d. said supporting means ,ati said receiving endbeing in an elevated posi-5- tionx above'ithertrough' and ineaiisior`sup porting and guiding Vsaid guiding means `in" reciprocable.theieivitihiii', connectionsy be#y tween said: pusher blades for zrecipi'olcatiiigl themitogetheryand reciprocatingmeans com,- prismgawcablei attachedsto saidyconveying.

mechanism near :either vend thereof for 'giv-i ing -a. positive; pulltoy .the conveying `mec-liar. y

nism in both directions.

18. A icionveyingfinech anisnif )fori loose iiia'- n' teria'ls:including in combination-ai trough; ai

material' conveyingmechanisml .comprising :ai

plurality of pusherblades-'littingf and: r Lcip-'l rocable'.therewithin,connections sloetiveeniisaid.l

pusher blades 1 for reciprocating f them: tos gether, automaticallyoperating 'reciprocat-j ing. means comprising.'ia. cable attachedi'tdsaid convey-ing mechanism` near 1 either;y end thereof, andj` adirectioniai'eversin'gzi'pulley over Whichithe cable runs;l I

19j.k A'vconveying mechanism Vforfloosefmaterials includingf incombination a xtiough,I a;

plurality."v ot pusher blades '.,i'it'tingzc-y and.; re-

together, and i automatically operating; reiI ciprocating, means forgiving gpositive; pull;

to the conveying,mechanism.ingfboth-.direcfn tionscomprising; a i membertravelingv inv av longitudinal pathi. and flexiblei connectionstherefromi :toi either endfof saidi `conveyinog` mechanism., 'l if f 20.i Azconveyingmechanisnrifor loose ma,- tei'ials including. incombinatioiii: aV :.tiough,= .a` materialconveying;inechanismfgcomprising a plurality f of E pusher 1 blades riitti'n-gi` and reciprocable therezwithingi `connectionsabetiveeni saidpushervblades for f recipiiocatingg them. together,A and yautoma'tical'lyf` operating'` re-ff ciprocatiingfcrmeansfifoii5gaf-ingrlto Ythe" conveying'mechanism vini;` both direc-y tions comprising ay imember traveling s 'in a longitudinali p including.-aadireotioiiii-eversing"device ,thererfronirto!` either .fendi-.ofy'sa-idwconveying. mechasl lliSIIlr. y

2l. A conveying mechanisifnizfor:loosegmae terialsfzincludingf. ins:combination2 a: ;p luial-ity off'troughf conveyors,vv :4 each? trough.Ahaving; a

material conveying.V inec-hanisiii,iy including.;y a; f

rposit'ivelpulliy ath :andi lexiblewconnections lio- 95` material.`conveyingmecha-nism; coiiiprisingl` and connections from saidreciprocating tion of inclination of the pusher blade and vmeans 'toeach of said vconveying mecha nisms.V

22. A conveying mechanism for loose niaterials including in combinationa plurality of trough conveyors, each trough having a material conveyingmechanism including a plurality of reciprocable pusher blades;reciprocating in the tro-ugh and connections therebetween forreciprocatingy them toy gether, a common actuating means for saidconveying mechanisms including ra cable -having two oppositelyreciprocating reaches extending past said conveyors and cables from theconveying vmechanisms of the various conveyors attached to lsaid twocable reaches. y f

'23. A-'conveying mechanism forloose vinaterials including incombination -a plurality of trough conveyors, each ltrough having amaterialconveying mechanism including a plurality of reciprocable pusherblades reciprocating in the trough and connectionstherebetween forreciprocating them. together,y a common actuating means for saidconveying `mechanisms 'including a cable having two oppositelyreciprocating reaches extending" past said conveyors'and cables from thecon-L veying mechanisms of the various conveyors attached .in alternaterelation lto said two cable reaches ,so that the load fromone'conveyor'fwill occur on the opposite reciprocav,inclination of thepusher blade and pivoted a and sectional trough, a bladeA actuatingvstructure supported upon and r'eciprocablel to said ractuatingstructure. n

25. A conveying mechanism for loose inaterials including in combinationa trough,- a blade actuating structure reciprocable'falong the trough,cable means for reciprocating the blade actuating structure-an.finclined pusher bladewithin the trou'g inclination of the pusherblade and pivoted to Asaid actuating structure and of sutlicient lengthto lift the blade above said reciprocatina structure. p

26. conveyingmechanism for loose materials including iny combination aportable along the trough, cable ineans'for reciproeating the bladeactuating structure, an vinclined pusher blade within the trough and anarm on which the pusher blade is mounted and extending backwardly in thedirec- I and an arm; Von which the pusher blade isivmounted andfextending backwardly in the direction of v longitudinally lmeans forreciprocating thel pusher blades,

pivoted to 'said actuating structure.

27. A conveying mechanism for loose materials. including in combinationa portable and sectional trough, a -blade actuating'.

structure supported upon'` and reciprocable along the trough, ycablemeans for reciprocating the blade actuating structure, an in-' clinedpusher blade within the trough and an arm on which the pusher blade ismounted and extending backwardly in the direction of inclination of thepusher blade and pivoted to said actuating structure and ofsuiiicientlength to lift the blade above said reciprocating structure. fy Y 28. A conveying mechanism for loose nia- Jteria-ls including incombination a series of iso conveyor sections vhaving a bottom and twosides and a` material receiving section having a bottom and only oneside, whereby maL terial may be fed in substantially at the level of thebottom, and a plurality of material advancing pusher blades reciprocablealong the conveyor iii both the two sided and one sided'sections, andmeans for reciprocating thel conveyor blades. i

f f 29. A conveying' mechanism for loose ina-i.`

terials including iii combination a series of conveyor sections having abottom, adapted to. be positioned very close to a supporting Hoor, andtwo sides and a material receiving section'having a bottom and onlyl oneside,`

whereby material may be fedy in substantially at the level of thebottom, and a plu-` rality of material advancing pusher bladesreciprocable alongthe conveyor iii both the twol sided and one sidedsections, and means forreciprocatingthe conveyor v blades.

30. rA conveying mechanism for looser ma-` terials comprising abottomadapted to rest just above a supporting floor, a side wall` a pluralityvof pusher bladesV reciprocable` along the bottom andsaid Yside wall.,the

other side of the conveyor `being open for receiving loose material. n

vv3l. A conveying mechanism .for loose materials, comprisingy a bottomflat throughout, and adapted to 'rest vjust above a supporting floor,and a side wall, pusher blades i'eciprocable therealong,

the other side of the conveyor being open whereby loose material may beloaded thereinto from that side.

32. A conveying mechanism for loose vmaterials comprising. a troughwitha botvthe path of the reciprocating pusher blades, o

and be conveyed from said loading point alongthe two-sided part of theconveyor.

33. yA conveying'niechanism for loose materials comprising a` troughwith a bottom, adapted to rest close to a suppo-rting floor, and twosides, a series of pusher blades reciprocable in the trough, one ofthesides at vthe material receiving end ot' the trough being omitted at aloading place for allowing the lateral loa-ding of the loose materialinto thc path of the reciprocating pusher blades` the series of pushe-rblades engaging with material at said loading point and conveying italong the `two-sided part of the conveyor.

ill. A conveying mechanism for loose inaterials comprising a trough Witha bottom and tivo sides, one of the sides of the trough being omitted.to provide an opening into which the loose material may be loaded fromthe side, and a plurality of pusher blades reciprocable along the tivosided part of the trough and back and forth in said loading opening.

35. A mine conve-yor system including in combination a series of troughconveyors located in side by side mine rooms, yand each including aseries of reciprocable materialconveying blades Within the trough, andcommon actuating means for the various sei'ies of conveying bladeslocated in the mine entry.

8G. A mine conveyor system including in combination a series of troughconveyors located in sideby side mine rooms, and each including a seriesof reciprocable materialconveying blades Within the trough, and commonactuating means for the various series of conveying blades located inthe mine entry. the actuating means alternately operating the pusherblades in various conveyors in the material conveying direction tobalance the load.

37. A mine conveyor system including in combination a series of troughconveyors located in side by side mine roms, and each including a series'of reciprocable materialconveying blades Within the trough, and commonactuating means for the various series of conveying blades located inthemine entry, and comprising an actuating cable for each conveyor and acable extending along the entry to Which the conveyor cables areatt-ached. n

38. Amine conveyor system including in combination a series of troughconveyors located in side by. side. mine rooms, and each including aseries of reciprocable materialcommon actuating means for the variousseries of conveying blades located in the mine entry, and vcomprising anactuating cable for each conveyor, anda cable extend- 'ing along theentr f to Whichthe conveyor having an extended fla-t bottom, adapted tolie very close to a supporting floor, and two sides, -a series ofmaterial-conveying pusher blades reciprocable in a flatpath along rthebottom, and one side of the trough being open at al loading place, andat least one of thev pusher blades being reciprocable pastv theopen-side loading place, and means for reciprocating the blades.

In testimony whereof, I have. signed my name to this specification.

KENNErHnAvIs.

4conveying blades Within the trough, and

